Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidenced based approach, where the therapist assists the client in gaining insight into distorted or irrational thinking patterns, which in turn helps to change the behaviors and emotions attached to these thoughts.

Cognitive Behavioral therapists assist in identifying behaviors that are not productive or have an undesirable impact on the client's life and then work with the individual to identify and test new behaviors. This may require the individual to complete simple homework assignments, that may involve reading or practicing certain techniques. CBT therapists will help the individual identify specific measurable, long and short-term goals, and then together they will continue to evaluate the progress of reaching these goals.

How Can a Therapist Help Me Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

The therapist's role is to listen, teach, and encourage, while the client's role is to express concerns, learn, and implement that learning. Therefore, CBT therapists do not tell their clients what to do, rather, they search for client strengths and use them to teach their clients how to do. The educational emphasis of CBT has an additional benefit: it leads to long term results. When people understand how and why they are doing well, they know what to do to continue doing well. CBT therapists believe it is not a person's circumstance or situation (necessarily) that is having a negative impact on his or her life, but rather the way in which the individual perceives and responds to the situation.

Here are some resources for further research:

• National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists
• National Board for Certified Counselors
• North Carolina Board of Licensed Professional Counselors